Glasgow



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VROBRT WASHINGTON GLASGOW, OF TRANQUILLITY, OHIO.

PITOHFO'RK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 379,951, dated March27I 1888.

Application filed November 29, 1887. Serial N0. 256,451. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT WASHINGTON GLASGOW, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Tranquillity, in the county of Adams and State ofOhio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pitchforks, of whichthe following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in pitchforks, the main objectsbeing to devise means whereby the load may be more easily dischargedtherefrom and the arms of the workman relieved from the jar ofdischarging the load; and it consists in the construction and novelcombination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a pitch forkembodying the invention. Fig. 2 represen ts a central longitudinalsection thereof. Fig. 3 represents the fork and parts connected theretodetached.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates afork having anydesired number of prongs a, and provided with the tang B, in which, nearits` end, is the long longitudinal slot b.

C is a sleeve surrounding the tang, and bifurcated at its lower end, asatc, to fit over the shoulderof the fork adjacent to the tang.

D is a strong coiled spring surrounding the tang between the upper endof the sleeve C and a washer or collar, d, held in place by a transversepin, d', that pierces the tang, to the lower side of the slot b.

E is a wooden handle or staff provided in one end with a suitablerecess, F, to fit snugly upon thesleeve C, the said recess being reducedand prolonged at f, for the purpose of permitting the tang toVreciprocate freely in and out,

G is a metal sleeve surrounding the handle and bifurcated at its lowerend to correspond with the sleeve O, 'to which it is secured at said endby pins g, securing together the corresponding arms of theirbifurcations.

The sleeve G is provided with the opposite arms, H, extending along thehandle for a sufficient distance. Y

h is a pin connecting the arms H of the sleeve G to the handle andpassing through the slot bof the fork-tang, so that while the fork canreciprocate freely it cannot be separated from the handle withoutremoving said pin. rIhe handle and sleeves are thus bound together bythe pins h and g, the sleeves C being within it and the sleeve G on itsouter surface, so that when the fork is drawn outward the coiled springwill be compressed between the upper end of the sleeve C and the collaror washer on the tang. In using the device the fork can by these meansadj ust itself inward and outward, and when throwing a load off thefork'tile latter will spring outward with the load and then recedefrom'under the same, thus preventingl the arms of the work man frombeing jarred.

Having described my invention, I claim- The herein-described pitchfork,consisting of the recessed handle, the sleeve C, secured in the recesstherein and bifurcatedat c, ythe fork provided with the tang B, havingthe longitudinal slot b and collar or washer d, the coiled spring D, themetalsleeve G, surrounding the lower part ofthe handle, and the pins gand h, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purposespecified. .v

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT WASHINGTON GLASGOW. Witnesses:

FRANK G. BLAIR, -CYRUs RALs'roN.

